Jane Fonda announced that she has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a “highly treatable illness,” and that she has begun treatment.
The Oscar-winning actress and environmental activist, 84, struck a positive tone in a social media statement. She stressed in the statement that her illness will not prevent her from raising awareness about the consequences of climate change.
“So, my dear friends, I have something personal I’d want to share,” Fonda said to her friends in an email. “I was diagnosed with non-lymphoma Hodgkin’s and have undergone chemotherapy treatment.”
“This type of cancer responds well to treatment. Given that just 20% of people survive, I consider myself quite fortunate. In addition, I am extraordinarily fortunate to have health insurance and access to the best medical professionals and therapies.
I’ve come to the unpleasant conclusion that I’m lucky in this situation. Almost every family in the United States has been touched by cancer at some point. Despite the disease’s prevalence, far too many people lack access to high-quality medical care, as I do. This is wrong.”
“We also need to discuss a lot more about what caused the problem so we can get rid of it,” she added. “People should be aware, for example, that fossil fuels may cause cancer. Insecticides, the majority of which are derived from fossil fuels such as coal, contaminate the ecosystem. I’m now undergoing chemotherapy for six months and am doing well. Believe me when I say that none of this will deter me from taking action on climate change.”
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the most widespread type of lymphoma, as described by the Mayo Clinic, “a form of cancer that starts in the lymphatic system, which is a component of the immune system that defends the body from infectious invaders.
When a patient develops non-lymphoma, white blood cells called lymphocytes increase in an uneven pattern. They can cause tumors (growths) everywhere in the body.” Hodgkin’s Furthermore, according to the group, breakthroughs in diagnosis and therapy “have helped improve the outlook for patients with this disease.”
Fonda has had a distinguished and long career in the film industry, with notable achievements, including Best Actress nominations for Klute (1971) and Coming Home (1984). (1973). (1978). She got the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2014 and the Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award the year before.
Grace and Frankie, a Netflix sitcom starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, released its seventh and final season earlier this year. Fonda’s debut on the show was fairly recent. She is also an outspoken environmentalist imprisoned numerous times in 2019 for her participation in rallies in Washington, DC.
